The National tribune., 1887-02-03
THE MORGAN RAID.
Some OF the Good Work Done by the Indiana
" Home Guards"

EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In reading
Gen. kautz's account of the rebel Gen. John
M0rgan's raid through Indiana and Ohio no.
tce some few errors, which, in justice TO the
loyalty and bravery Of the citizenship OF those
States, should be corrected. Had IL not been
for that loyalty aud bravery in delaying the
march Of Morgan, Gems HObson and Judah
would never have overtaken him, and Morgan
would have escaped into the Confederacy with
the prestige OF having successfully accomplished
the greatest raid in the annals Of the war.
Al that period of the war the several Coun-
tics Of Indiana aud Ohio bordering on Ken
lucky had organizations known as Home
Guards, and however deficient in drill or mill
tary discipline the majority Of those organiza-
lions might have been there were few Of them
differed by brave men who could DO soldier 5
duty as well as the three-yoars men under
HobsOn or kautZ.
One instance / now cite as an act Of justice
20 two as brave aud gallant men rs the war
produced. Hcth Township Harrison Co. In
diana, lying opposite TO Brandenburg, Ky,
had an organization Of Home Guards, OF which
the Hon. s. M. Stockslagcr, now Assistant Sec
rotary Of the Interior, was at that time tlrst
Lieutenant. When il was known that Morgan
was heading for Brandenburg Lieut.. stock
slagers company was taken TO the BANK OF me
river opposite 10 be prepared TO resist their
crossing. The Home Guards Of Leayenworth,
q town IN Indiana, 20 miles below, brought UP
two pieces OF artillery, and would have sunk
the two captured boats oa which Morgan alter
ward effected his crossing had IL not been Tor a
Lieutenant Colonel Of the Home Guards, who
claimed they had no right 10 sink private
property.
A few shots from Morgan's artillery dispersed
all opposition (our valorous Home Guard Colo
mel with the rest, except Lieut.. 5. NJ stock
Slayer and 40 of has company, who, Win Lieut.
Col. Timberlake, of the Slst Ind, who arrived
al this time, opened fire on Morgan's forces and
prevented them crossing the river from day
! light until o'clock In the afternoon. They
/ killed and wounded 26 of Morgan's command,
who were left at BTandenburg These IL brave
men remained fighting until Morgan had
steamed up the river aud came in on their rear,
where he captured Lieut.. Stockslager and has
men. Col. Timberlake escaped on horseback
and organized the force which fought Morgan
at CorydOn, at which place Morgan LETT "a
wounded men. At these two places Morgan
was delayed % hours, so the readers OF THE
/ NATIONAL TRIBUNE can see whether this de-
lay had anything 10 do with the final capture
of Morgan.
In all history appertaining TO the capture of
John Morgan the Hon. s. Nj. StOcislageF and
the late Lieut.-COl. Undertake should have
credit of enlightening Morgan as to the temper
and fighting qualities of the citizenship of In
diana and Ohio, and also of first placing OBJ
structiOns in his march, which finally resulted
in his capture. For Gen. Kautz's benefit we
will add that in all the fighting with Morgan
more lives were lost among the citizen soldiers
of Harrison County, Ind, than in the entire
command of Hobson, kautz and Judah.-E. s.,
Columbus, Kan.